Consumed

Grave Danger

The distant sound of dogs barking wakes me from my haze. I feel incredibly cold and darkness clouds my surroundings; I can't see anything more than five feet in front of me. I hear the crunch crunch of leaves being crushed under my weight. I realize that I'm running through the woods; no where to go, no where to hide. Memories flood back into my mind: Pain. Sorrow. Unpleasant things. I knew not where I was headed, but one thing was for sure - I had to get out of here, and quick.

The once distant barking increases in volume; I'm being chased. My heart pounds in my chest, a nervous lump forming in my throat. I want to scream, to let out all my pent up emotions. I skid to a halt to catch my breath. I whip around to take note of the environment in which I was in. The bright light of flashlight beams greet my field of vision, and I know it's time to flee once again. I start off sprinting at full speed.

I weave between the pine trees, trying to lose my pursuers. As is dash through the woods I peer up at the sky. A full moon is shining it's soft light and a thousand stars twinkle in the night's sky. How could the world look so beautiful at a time like this? I come across a steep hill, not hesitating to climb up it. I hoist myself up onto the flat ground at the top of the slope. I rise to my feet, brushing the dust from my beat up, withered clothes.

I notice that I'm now standing on the smooth asphalt of a highway. I finally feel safe and free, like someone who has just escaped from a hungry lion's den. My temporary burst of happiness lasted only a few more seconds as I heard the low rumble of an engine nearby. I wrenched my head to the side and beheld a massive eighteen wheeler not even ten feet away. I stood in it's path like a deer in headlights. I hear a smack and a crack, then my conscience slips into pitch black darkness.

******A Split Second Later******

I gasp for air as I become wide awake. My whole body shakes and the bed is soaked with cold, nervous sweat. I stay huddled on the bed for a few minutes, trembling in fear. A soft, devious chuckle tickles my ears, and causes me to turn my head in the direction of the sound. Across the room from me, a man cloaked in shadow laughs menacingly. To my dismay, the whole escape plan had been a facade; the terror and freedom I felt was fake. The knowledge that the entire situation was just my imagination  gave me no additional comfort.

The realization of the scenario as being a nightmare only made the horrible truth more difficult to swallow. Here I sat in a dank prison cell, hoping that my visions would soon turn into more that just day dreams. "S-Stop-p-p laughing at m-me, Thomas." I murmur. My words only cause him to laugh more. "You're pathetic, Violet. " Thomas sneered. "This is why you were taken in the first place, because you're so hopeless!" he spat. A wicked smile works across his face. I stare down at my bare feet and tattered clothes, knowing that his words are true.

Why didn't you defend yourself? Can't you see it's all your fault? Nobody cares about you. Why do you think nobody has come looking for you? I feel so unclean and dirty. I don't know how much more I can take of this place.